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Theresa May[/caption]
Theresa May has told her critics that getting rid of her as PM would not make delivering Brexit any easier.
Mrs May defended last week’s draft agreement for leaving the EU and said there was a “critical” week ahead. She suggested agreeing more details of UK’s future relationship with the EU, ahead of an expected summit next week, could satisfy the concerns of some of the Tory MPs opposed to her plans. Ex-Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the UK was being “bullied” by the EU. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party could get a better deal in time for Brexit, which is due to happen on 29 March. There has been widespread criticism of the 585-page withdrawal agreement – published alongside a shorter document setting out what the UK and EU’s future relationship could look like – which is set be signed off at a summit next week. There is also doubt over whether it can win the approval of the House of Commons. Some cabinet ministers have resigned, including Mr Raab, and others are believed to be trying to change its wording. In other developments:- The European Commission has proposed 31 December 2022 as the ultimate end date for any extension to the post-Brexit transition period
- The key Brexiteer group of Tory MPs has published its rebuttal of the draft plan – saying it will make the UK a “rule-taker”
- A poll of 505 Tory councillors found more were against the deal than for it – but a majority wanted MPs to back Theresa May
- Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed her MPs would vote against the deal